Students share three secrets to being change makers in a successful co-op work term
By: Mary Lynne Bartlett (she/her)
At the recent聽Employer Impact Conference: The power of change makers, four 蓝莓视频 co-op students shared insights on what it meant to them to be change makers.
Co-op isn鈥檛 just about landing a job for a few months, gaining experience or saving money. It鈥檚 about stepping into the role of a change maker 鈥 someone who drives impact, learns fast and grows in ways that last a lifetime. Here are three tips co-op students shared in the panel discussion hosted by Jess Lang, associate director at the Centre for Career Development (CCD).
1. Look for growth opportunities
The panellists all had one thing in common: curiosity. They didn鈥檛 just stick to their job descriptions鈥攖hey looked for ways to learn and lead.
Shawn Benedict, a Nanotechnology student in the Faculty of Engineering, worked in AI research at , a large independent research organization.
His supervisors started his work term by testing his skills with small tasks. When Benedict exceeded expectations and demonstrated his curiosity, his co-op supervisors at SINTEF gave him more complex challenges.
鈥淭hey told me if I finished early, I could take on more exciting projects,鈥 Benedict says. He did聽just that 鈥 boosting model accuracy 16-fold and speed fivefold. His work even contributed to a paper presented at the Northern Lights Deep Learning Conference.
Shawn Benedict, Nanotechnology student
2. Make meaningful contributions
Students on the panel focused on the value of building trust. By making meaningful contributions during their work term, they earned trust and could make more of an impact.
Daisy Martin, Psychology student
Daisy Martin, a Psychology student in the Faculty of Science, revamped the entire data management system at . From day one, she dove into research, tested tools and built a training program for staff.
鈥淵ou can learn and contribute when you鈥檙e in a space that trusts you to take initiative and helps you build the confidence to do so,鈥 Martin says. 鈥淚 developed technical, leadership (and)聽collaboration skills."
Martin earned recognition from her supervisor for her proactive mindset. She asked questions, researched better processes, tested new systems and created training resources for staff.聽
Daisy鈥檚 professionalism, communication and project management are well beyond what we expect from a co-op student.
Kennedy Taylor, Legal Studies student in the Faculty of Arts, worked as a business analyst at .
She made significant contributions to the company by streamlining processes, introducing automation wherever possible and improved the customer onboarding process.
"What set me apart as a change maker was my willingness to take on initiative in unfamiliar territories," Taylor says.
"There is not a time that we won't be somewhere unfamiliar with our work, and we need to ask questions and find ways to add value beyond just what鈥檚 expected of you."
Kennedy Taylor, Legal Studies student
3. Explore career possibilities
Trying out different careers and workplaces is a valuable benefit of co-operative education. Co-op work terms help students to identify what gives them meaning, what impact they want to have on the world and their values.
Matthew Stebelsky, Management Engineering student
Matthew Stebelsky, a Management Engineering student in the Faculty of Engineering, worked as a data scientist at . His supervisor鈥檚 enthusiasm inspired him to dive deep into projects and learn more about what type of work motivates him.
鈥淗aving a manager who gets you really on board and in the nitty-gritty of it as an intern, it鈥檚 something that excites me and makes me want to work for that company more and more,鈥 Stebelsky says.
One of the benefits of co-op is discovering the types of work environments that help you find your career path. Figuring out what is meaningful to you in a job, in the workplace, in a company and a manager is as informative as trying out new jobs that stretch your skills.
What鈥檚 next?
Whether you鈥檙e currently on a work term or preparing for your next opportunity, it's important to show employers who you are, what you bring to the role and why you're the right candidate.
We鈥檙e here for you every step of the way. Book an appointment with a career advisor or chat with your co-op advisor to explore your possibilities.